PM: don't travel abroad; crisis could last longer than six months

Australians have been told to not travel overseas, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people are forbidden, access to aged-care facilities is being severely restricted and Anzac Day ceremonies have been called off, as the government ramps up the fight against coronavirus.

A sombre Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy warned more restrictions were to come but cautioned that society and the economy as a whole would not be shut down overnight.

"Stop hoarding. I can't be more blunt about it. Stop it. It is not sensible, it is not helpful and it has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis,'' the prime minister said.

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"That is not who we are as a people. It is not necessary.''

He acknowledged the shut down measures being imposed were having "quite severe economic implications'' and for that reason alone they needed to be staggered, while also protecting public health.

The crisis, unprecedented since the Spanish Flu a century ago, would last for six months, maybe longer, Mr Morrison said. Once a measure was taken, it could not be quickly undone and this included closing schools.

For that reason, as well as health advice, schools would be kept open, he said.

"Whatever we do we have to do for at least six months. That means the disruption that would occur from the closure of schools around this country, make no mistake, would be severe,'' he said.

"Tens of thousands of jobs could be lost, if not more."

Advice to the government was that school shutdowns could mean 30 per cent of health workers would be unavailable to work.

"There is a national public interest here in keeping schools open and our advice is that is not being done at the detriment at the health of any child."

The new restrictions follow meetings on Monday of the National Security Committee of cabinet and the national cabinet comprising the Prime Minister and the state and territory leaders.

Mr Morrison said that effective immediately, there would be an indefinite and effective ban on Australians leaving the country.

For the firs time ever, the government raised advice for all overseas travel to the highest level.

"Our advice to all Australians - regardless of your destination, age or health - is do not travel overseas at this time,'' Mr Morison said.

This was because the biggest source of infection in Australia was from people returning from abroad.

"Do not go overseas. That is very clear that instruction. For those who arethinking of going overseas in the school holidays, don't,'' Mr Morrison said.

"The decision reflects the gravity of the international situation arising from the COVID-19 outbreak, the risks to health and the high likelihood of major travel disruptions.

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"We also now advise Australians who are overseas who wish to return to Australia, to do so as soon as possible by commercial means. Commercial options may quickly become limited."

He said there was no need to ban all arrivals from overseas at this stage. The rule imposed in the weekend that every arrival must self-isolate for 14 days effectively shut down foreign arrivals, he said.

Mr Morrison and Dr Murphy also announced that non-essential indoor gatherings of more than 100 people have been banned immediately.

Non-essential gatherings include social functions, bars, restaurants and religious services.

Essential gatherings include shopping centres, public transport, office blocks, airports, jails, Parliament, mining and construction sites and factories. But anyone in these places all must practice social distancing.

Aged care visits will be restricted to a maximum of two visitors per resident at one time per day.

"Visits should be conducted in a resident's room, outdoors or in a specific area designated by the facility, rather than communal areas where the risk of transmission to other residents is greater,'' Mr Morrison said.

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If a resident was dying, the facility could make discretionary arrangements for the family to say goodbye.

Abut 20,000 foreign student nurses currently studying in Australia will also be asked to help, Mr Morrison said.

Mr Morrison repeated that the government was operating on the basis that the crisis would last six months, but added it may be more.

"It could be much longer than that. It could be shorter. That is unlikely, given the way we are seeing events unfold,'' he said.

"Life is changing in Australia, as it is changing all around the world. Life is going to continue to change, as we deal with the global coronavirus.

"This is a once in 100 year type event. We haven't seen this sort of thing in Australia since the end of the first World War. But together, we are up to this challenge."

He urged people to rely only on official information, such as that coming from the state and federal governments, and the medical authorities. He said social media was unreliable and, in some cases, was being used to deliberately spread false information and hoaxes.

"Facts are important. Information is what we need to make proper decisions on, and you need to make proper decisions on. And that's why we'll give you the information as best we can and as regularly as we can," Mr Morrison said.

More than 10,000 people poured into the nation's capital on the ninth day of protests over police brutality, but what awaited them was a city that no longer felt as if it was being occupied by its own country's military.